Defiance, rude awakenings all the rage in Covid pandemic
It would have been a rude awakening, except I was already awake.
When moths collide
Vax certificate recipe more critical than biscuits’
Vax certificate recipe more critical than biscuits’
For a while I thought the Auckland-dwelling sister had forgotten her manners.
Efficiency, restructuring and defending the indefensible
Efficiency, restructuring and defending the indefensible
The shambles which is my house is not always appreciated by visiting family members.
Living on baby time, there is no room for bafflegab
Living on baby time, there is no room for bafflegab
For a moment, I thought our secondary schooling had let us down, again. English, this time.
No vax, no entry a quagmire
No vax, no entry a quagmire
My Invercargill dining experience promised much but delivered little.
Two messes that should have been dealt with long ago
Two messes that should have been dealt with long ago
When I found myself vacuuming the floor of the basement, I suspected I had been home alone for too long.
Grumpiness pervades in this round of being stuck at home
Grumpiness pervades in this round of being stuck at home
Let's face it. Second time round there is no novelty about lockdown.
Opinion: Rules for women’s sports attire outdated
Opinion: Rules for women’s sports attire outdated
It seems we still have some way to go to ensure all sportswomen are comfortable in their uniforms, writes Elspeth McLean.
Rice pudding: small pleasures loom large - as do tears
Rice pudding: small pleasures loom large - as do tears
Three bowls in, I realise I have come full circle on rice pudding.
Promises on nursing staffing hollow
Promises on nursing staffing hollow
Three years ago, I wrote about my non-existent nursing skills.
Hard going being role model if you’re feeling old and cranky
Hard going being role model if you’re feeling old and cranky
On the eve of another birthday, I am doing my best to fight my cranky old woman tendencies.
Giving in to laziness, getting sidetracked turned out better
Giving in to laziness, getting sidetracked turned out better
One of the offspring kindly suggested it might be intuition, but I knew it was laziness.
Flashing sense of mortality: a letter to my dear new grandson
Flashing sense of mortality: a letter to my dear new grandson
Dear new grandson, I apologise for being a little dramatic the day we met.
Grief never disappears from royals’ or commoners’ lives
Grief never disappears from royals’ or commoners’ lives
She turns 95 today, but it seems wrong to wish Her Majesty many happy returns.
Ignoring basic needs in our jails a recipe for resentment
Ignoring basic needs in our jails a recipe for resentment
When I was told off for eating on the bus the other day, it made me grateful I am usually a goody two-shoes.
Public deserves openness, respect
Public deserves openness, respect
I want to say "I told you so" or claim soothsayer status, but that could be going a bit far.
Tree tribulations provide appropriate allegory
Tree tribulations provide appropriate allegory
When I announced my Christmas tree would be something special this year, nobody skimped on the scepticism.
Boomer meme brouhaha lost on me
Boomer meme brouhaha lost on me
It's bad enough dealing with an identity crisis wide awake, but I was semi-comatose.
Things get comfortingly domestic as lockdown gets under way
Things get comfortingly domestic as lockdown gets under way
In the final hour before lockdown, I was on my hands and knees scrubbing my kitchen's wooden floor with Sunlight soap, writes Elspeth McLean.
The heart goes out to those whose notes desert them
The heart goes out to those whose notes desert them
If you come bearing a bouquet, please leave out the bluebells.